When coming to Cabrini my freshman year, I had no plans of joining an athletic team. Being an athlete for a majority of my life, it was weird not competing in a sport for the first time in my life.
Freshman year came and went and I wasn’t quite satisfied with how much I was involved on campus. In the summer going into my sophomore year, I contacted Cabrini Cross Country Head Coach Brian Sugden.
I had no prior experience running cross country, however I did run some indoor track in high school. I expressed my interest in joining the team, even with no background.
Coach encouraged me to attend preseason training with the team, where he would work with me to become more of a distance runner. Luckily, he found a spot on the team for me. I was thrilled to be a part of a team, even if it meant committing myself to something completely new.
Over time, I learned about all of the great resources that student-athletes have on campus to make them excel, not only on the field, but in the classroom as well. From the dedicated athletic training staff to the strength and conditioning programs, Cabrini has helped shape me to be the best athlete that I could possibly be.
The staff in the Dixon Center is always there to help you get better. Not only do they want to see you get better athletically, but they want to see you get better academically as well.
Being an athlete at Cabrini is definetly demanding, but academics are just as important. One of my main concerns when joining the team was how much time it would take from my academic studies. I quickly found out that I would still have plenty of time to focus on my classes. From team study halls and checking in with an academic advisor, the athletic program always makes sure that you are on top of your school work.
Becoming a student-athlete at Cabrini was one of the greatest choices I have ever made. I’ve made countless connections, friends, and memories over the past two years.
With competing at meets, going to practice, attending class, helping with community service projects, participating in events like the homecoming pep-rally and halloween havoc, and more, being a student-athlete means you have a full schedule, but it is worth it.
Whether it may be an NCAA sport or an intramural, get out of your comfort zone and try something new. You may end up loving it.